Is there dramatic irony in Trifles?

The Dramatic Irony in Trifles

Dramatic irony is a plot element wherein the audience is aware of information that the protagonists are unaware of, causing them to act in ways that are contrary to their true intentions. Trifles, a one-act play by Susan Glaspell, uses dramatic irony to build conflict that engages the audience and enhances the piece's potency as a social criticism.

The early 1900s novel Trifles discusses the rights of, and societal expectations for, women at the period. In an ironic turn of events, the audience is aware that the ladies have found the murderer, but the men are unaware of the reality due to their presumptions. The two women ultimately come to empathize with Minnie Wright's torture at the hands of her husband and believe the murder was justified, which is the final twist. Then they work together to keep their ignorant husbands and the county attorney from learning the truth.

What is the dramatic irony in Trifles?

Yes, there is a dramatic irony in Trifles.